20 Nov 2023 9:46 AM GMT
Andhra Pradesh High Court today granted regular bail to former Chief Minister and TDP (Telugu Desam Party) Chief Chandrababu Naidu in the multi-crore Skill development case.
Justice T Mallikarjun Rao said that from the material available on record it cannot be definitively concluded that the misappropriated amounts were diverted to the Telugu Desam Party's bank accounts.
"The petitioner, A.37, was arrested on September 9, 2023, and remained in judicial custody until being granted interim bail on health grounds on October 31, 2023, following the court's orders. Despite allegations of transferring misappropriated amounts to the T.D.P. party's account, no prima facie evidence is presented to support this claim. This court views that such serious allegations should be backed by substantial material before seeking the remand of the petitioner. The court, at this point, views the lack of supportive material as a gap in the investigation's conclusion that the alleged misappropriated amount had been transferred to the T.D.P. party's account."
State's crime investigation department claimed the former chief minister played a key role in the alleged embezzlement of around Rs 371 crore from the Andhra Pradesh Skill Development Corporation through fictitious companies during the Telugu Desam Party's rule between 2014 and 2019.
However, Court noted it is not prosecution's case that SIEMENS and Design Tech, parties to a Memorandum of Agreement with APSSDC, failed to deliver high-end technology to trainers.
Court also said that Naidu cannot be held accountable for the discrepancies highlighted in Forensic Audit report as per which out of the Rs.371 Crores, at least Rs.241 Crores were misappropriated by SISW and Design Tech diverted to various shell companies.
"The Prosecution needs to clarify how the petitioner can be held responsible for such discrepancies, as it is not his duty, as the then Chief Minister, to verify and compare parties' signatures...It remains to be clarified how the differences outlined in the report can be deemed the fundamental cause for the alleged misappropriation of funds."
While granting bail, Court refused to continue the restriction imposed upon Naidu to not give any press interviews including both print and digital media nor make any public comments in connection with this case. It said, "While disposing of regular bail application, placing such conditions will have an impact on the electoral prospectus of the petitioner's political party."